jazz2love

Album: Vortex Artist: Kenny Shanker Label: Wise Cat Records Website: www.kennyshanker.com   and www.wisecatrecords.com Saxophonist Kenny Shanker is back with his third release Vortex and his first outing on Wise Cat Records.   From the bustling, urban-like activity of the title track to the leisurely wandering stroll of “Lulu’s Back in Town” and the waltzing cantor of “Winter Song,” Shanker’s playing describes images that listeners can easily envision, each relatable to real world scenes. The bowing and refracting of Yoshi Waki’s bass along “Winter Song” adds another element alongside Shanker’s pendulum-swinging saxophone toots, while the frenzied pace of his saxophone fomenting “Hunter” is joined by the rustling movements of Mike Eckroth’s keys and Daisuke Abe’s frothy guitar riffs.   “Rumble” lowers the tempo to a cruising gait, and “Nightfall” slows the pace to an introspective musing as Shanker’s saxophone imbues a nocturnal shimmer over the melodic soundscap...

Album:  Distance Artist: Kenny Carr Label: Zoozazz Music Website:  www.kennycarrguitar.com Fusion guitarist Kenny Carr revisits several original compositions that he wrote over 25 years ago and revised them with contemporary imagings for his ninth release Distance .  Classically trained, Carr embraces a large swathe of the music spectrum including free jazz, blues, roots rock, and soul funk.  Integrating a vast array of attributes, Carr explores his prowess as an open-minded artist. The gritty roots rock tone of Carr's guitar soaks into every fiber of "Arrival," forming vibrating streaks across the track.  The recording cools to a soothing lather through "Until Then," as Carr's guitar strings radiate bright shimmers across the melodic bed.  Switching to a bluesy tint along "Like Old Times," Carr's guitar shoots beams of light, forming a pattern of glittering flickers, supported by the steady rhythmic pulse of bassist Lincoln Goines and drummer ...

Album:  MicroCosmo Artist:  Micro Corgi Website:  https://microcorgi.com/               https://microcorgi.bandcamp.com/album/microcosmos The New York City based outfit MicroCorgi are a jazz trio, comprised of pianist Andrew McGowan, guitarist Yuto Kanazawa, and drummer Ilya Dynov.  Their 2020 debut release MicroCosmos sees the trio combining elements of smooth jazz, R&B-imbued bop, adult folk pop, and blues rock fusion.  Recorded by Ng Jun Yang, the release was produced by the trio's drummer Dynov and mixed and mastered by the band's guitarist Kanazawa.  All nine compositions on the recording are originals, written by the three band members, each offering three of their own creations and showcasing three very distinct songwriters. Out of the three members, Ilya Dynov's compositions demand little more from listeners than to sit back and be engulfed in the tranquil, smooth jazz aesthetics....